13032019-TTC-01.qxd 3/13/2019 1:37 AM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | jammu | srinagar | vol.3 no.71 | 24 pages | ~4.50 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881 | wednesday, march 13,2019 CAPITALISM UNDER SERIOUS THREAT, SAYS RAGHURAM RAJAN PAGE 12 SETBACK TO MAY, MPS REJECT BREXIT DEAL FOR SECOND TIME PAGE 13 /thetribunechd IN BRIEF US, Taliban end talks with no Afghan peace deal Kabul: United States and Taliban negotiators on Tuesday wrapped up their latest round of peace talks, with progress made but no agreement on when foreign troops might withdraw. The talks, in which the US sought assurances that the Taliban will not use Afghanistan to stage attacks, are expected to continue later in March. REUTERS ‘BJP may win most seats, no second term for Modi’ Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said the BJP may emerge as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha elections, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to get a second term in office. “BJP will have to seek support of allies (to form the government). In that scenario, PM Modi is unlikely to get a second term," Pawar said. On Monday, Pawar had said he will not contest the Lok Sabha election. PTI Case against Rahul over ‘Azharji’ remark Patna: A complaint case was lodged on Tuesday against Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a court in Muzaffarpur for calling JeM chief “Masood Azharji”. March 16 is the next date of hearing. TNS late city PAK ASSURES US IT WILL DEAL FIRMLY WITH TERRORISTS BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Cong resolution: Will seek a mandate for change in polls SADpicks Bibi Jagir for Khadoor Sahib Says PM exploiting national security issue to hide his govt failures Gurbaxpuri Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Ahmedabad, March 12 Meeting in Gujarat, home state of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) today sent out a clear signal of battle readiness to the ruling BJP saying it , would seek a mandate for change in the Lok Sabha elections starting April 11. With nationalism dominating the election narrative after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to the cause of sovereignty and antiterror, slamming PM Narendra Modi for “cynically exploiting issues of national security for poll gains”. The CWC’s political resolution made caustic references to the PM and said he was exploiting national security issues to deflect people’s attention from his government’s failures. “The PM has betrayed the people. He doesn’t want people to discuss the fundamental issues of job loss, agrarian IndiabansMax8jets after Ethiopia crash Groundings spread across the globe New delhi/London, March 12 India’s Aviation watchdog DGCA tonight grounded the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft days after the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 persons. The decision comes after a number of countries worldwide grounded the new model of the US manufacturer’s best-selling 737. “The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-MAX planes immediately. These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a tweet. “As always, passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety,” it added. SpiceJet has 12 ‘737 Max 8’ planes in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five. Earlier, Britain, Germany and France joined a wave of suspensions of the aircraft as US President Donald Trump fretted ! FULL CONFIDENCE IN SAFETY, SAYS BOEING Boeing Co said on Tuesday it has “full confidence” in the safety of the 737 MAX fleet despite two fatal crashes since October and a rising number of regulators and airlines grounding the planes around the world. “We understand that regulatory agencies and customers have made decisions that they believe are most appropriate for their home markets,” Boeing said. REUTERS over the modern airplane design. China and Indonesia also grounded the aircraft operated by their airlines, while Singapore and Australia suspended operations of all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in and out of their airports. — Agencies Related report on page 13 Congress president Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. PTI MORE ON PAGE 7 distress, low growth, social disharmony. But the Congress is determined to not let the PM fool the people again,” Congress leader Anand Sharma said after the meeting that lasted over two hours at Sardar Vallabhbhai Memorial Hall here. continued on page 11 ‘SHOW PATRIOTISM BY MAKING RIGHT CHOICES’ The voice for change should rise from Gujarat, the land from where Mahatma Gandhi began the struggle for freedom... those who talk boastfully, ask them where are 2 crore jobs they promised, where is ~15 lakh that was to come into your accounts, where’s women’s security? Ask the right questions. Just remain aware and show your patriotism by making right choices. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra India cuts back on Venezuelan oil at US behest Hollywood stars in admissions scam Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 12 India has asked its oil companies to cut back on their purchase from Venezuela even as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked New Delhi to stop being the “economic lifeline for the Maduro regime”. The Indian decision could sound the death knell for the Nicolas Maduro regime because New Delhi is Caracas’ second largest customer after the US. The Venezuelan economic crisis will intensify once both countries stop buying its crude. At its peak, India was purchasing 4 lakh barrels per day of Venezuelan oil, of which Reliance accounted for 75 per cent of the heavy sulphur crude. India’s total purchases have now whittled to 3 lakh barrels a day. “The Indian government is warning companies to halt purchases of Venezuelan oil or face undisclosed consequences,” agencies quoted MM Kutty, Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary, at an event in Houston, US. The issue had also figured in talks between Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and US State Department officials. continued on page 11 ❝ Huffman, Loughlin charged with fraud BOSTON, March 12 Hollywood actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among 50 persons charged by US federal prosecutors today in a $25 million scheme to help wealthy Americans cheat their children’s way into elite universities, such as Yale and Stanford. Federal prosecutors in Boston charged William “Rick” Singer, 58, with running the racketeering scheme through his Edge College & Career Network. Prosecutors said Singer’s operation arranged for fake testers to take college admissions exams in place of his clients’ children, and also bribed coaches to give admissions slots meant to be reserved for recruited athletes even if the applicants had no athletic ability. Parents paid tens of thousands of dollars for his services, which were masked as charitable contributions, prosecutors said. The scheme began in 2011, prosecutors said, and also helped children get into the University of Texas, Georgetown University, the Lori Loughlin Felicity Huffman University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. Part of the scheme involved advising parents to pretend that their child had learning disabilities that allowed them extended time to take the exam. The test administrators took bribes to allow Singer's clients to cheat, often by arranging to have wrong answers corrected after the exam or having another person take the exam. In many cases, the students were not aware that their parents had arranged for the cheating. “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman, 56, and Lori Loughlin, 54, who starred in “Full House”, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. — Agencies Dares Brahmpura, who parted ways Tarn Taran, March 12 Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief and ex-minister Bibi Jagir Kaur is the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate for the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, considered the citadel of the Akalis. The seat was represented by Ranjit Singh Brahmpura in the 16th Lok Sabha. He parted ways with the SAD and constituted the SAD (Taksali), along with MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said candidates for the other seats would be declared shortly. He challenged Brahmpura to re-contest. Gen JJ Singh (retd) has been fielded by SAD (Taksali). Sukhbir termed the PDA, SAD (Taksali) and AAP ‘stooges’ of the Congress whose aim was to divide Opposition votes. Attacking Brahmpura, he told the crowd: “Your MP did not raise a single issue concerning your area or Punjab in Parliament for five years.” The Tarn Taran Lok Sabha Top court holds advocate guilty of contempt New Delhi, March 12 The Supreme Court on Tuesday held advocate Mathews J Nedumpara guilty of contempt for taking a senior lawyer’s name to allege that sons and daughters of judges were given priority in awarding ‘senior advocate’ designation, saying that he has attempted to browbeat the courts and his conduct deserves severe punishment. While dismissing a plea challenging the method of designation of senior advocates, a Bench comprising Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Vineet Saran issued notice to the lawyer on the punishment to be imposed on him for committing contempt of court and sought his response within two weeks. The SC had earlier expressed displeasure over the reference to a noted jurist while alleging that sons and daughters of judges were given preferential treatment in awarding the designation. The SC had recently decided to initiate contempt proceedings against Prashant Bhushan, who tweeted that the government had submitted fabricated papers of the panel on the appointment of interim CBI chief. — PTI ABOUT CANDIDATE ■ Bibi Jagir was acquitted by the HC last December in a case of forcible abortion and abduction of daughter Harpreet Kaur, who died under mysterious circumstances in April 2000 ■ She had to resign as minister in SAD-BJP government in 2012 when a CBI court sentenced her and three others to five years’ imprisonment in the case ■ Bibi Jagir has been MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala district and has headed the SGPC twice constituency, as it was called prior to it being renamed, has produced stalwarts such as former CM Partap Singh Kairon and LS Speaker Gurdial Singh Dhillon, both from the Congress. Akali stalwarts Baba Kharak Singh, Udham Singh Nagoke and Mohan Singh Tur continued on page 11 No truck with Cong in any state: Maya Lucknow, March 12 BSP national president Mayawati today said her party would not have any understanding or electoral alliance with the Congress in any state in the Lok Sabha elections. Describing the alliance with the Samajwadi Party as “perfect”, she said it was based on “mutual respect” and “worthy intention” that had the capacity to defeat the BJP and usher in social change in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. Mayawati was speaking at the party’s all-India review meeting. She took stock of the situation in Uttarakhand, where the BSP is contesting in alliance with the SP and in , Punjab and Haryana, where it has entered into an alliance with regional parties. Addressing party workers, she said, “For temporary political gains, the BSP will not take any step that can harm its movement.” — TNS Quantum jump for Haryana in HDI Up 7 slots with focus on social sectors Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 12 Haryana has made an improvement of 52.2 per cent in the Human Development Index (HDI) in 27 years (1990 to 2017) due to the highest compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of social sector expenditure in the country, says a State Bank of India (SBI) study on “Human development index across Indian states: Is the glass still half empty?” The study by the Economic Research Department of SBI looked into a correlation between CAGR in social sector expenditure with HDI data of the UNDP and Global Data Lab. The HDI is a summary measure for assessing longterm progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. Haryana used to be ranked 13 in 1990 (HDI 0.46). For 2017, it is ranked sixth with HDI at 0.7. “Haryana is earning a lot. So, it is able to allocate a larger share for social sectors like health and education,” HOW THEY FARED STATE 2017 SCORE KERALA 0.77 GOA 0.75 PUNJAB 0.72 HIMACHAL PRADESH 0.72 HARYANA 0.70 said Prof Aswini Kumar Nanda from CRRID, Chandigarh. Comparing region-wise trends, the preponderance of southern states among high HDI is not a surprise, but it also reflects an emerging concern. “This is because ‘southern India’ population is turning old and is currently witnessing a significantly low population growth. This can potentially result in imminent pressure on southern states in terms of interstate migration (both social and physical),” the report said. Why no means to check sudden Khadi Marigold in memory of Jallianwala martyrs rise in lawmakers’ assets, asks SC GS Paul Tribune News Service Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 12 The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to explain in two weeks why a permanent mechanism to monitor a sudden rise in assets of lawmakers had not been set up despite a direction issued by it last year. Terming undue accretion of assets by lawmakers as a “sure indicator” of the beginning of a failing democracy, the top court had in February last year said if left unattended, it would lead to destruc- tion of democracy and pave way for “rule of mafia”. The order, which had come on a PIL by NGO ‘Lok Prahari’, mandated creation of a permanent institutional mechanism to continuously monitor assets and sources of income of legislators, spouses and associates, including dependents. It had also asked for appropriate action in case of a disproportionate increase in assets during the tenure of membership, including disqualification. Without issuing notice, a Bench headed by Chief Jus- tice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked secretary, Legislative Department to explain why its directions were not implemented by the Centre. It asked him to explain what had been done with regard to non-disclosure or part disclosure of assets which amounted to “undue influence”. It also sought to know why Form 26 filled out by candidates at the time of filing of nomination papers did not contain a declaration if they suffered any disqualification under the Act. Amritsar, March 12 The Partition Museum in the city will unfold the story of Punjab as it was in 1919 through an exhibition and a specially crafted marigold made of khadi, which will be available from March 13 to April 13, at events across India and abroad to mark the Jallianwala Bagh massacre centenary. Kishwar Desai, chairperson, Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, said March 13 had been chosen to launch the khadi marigold as it was on this day 79 years ago that Shaheed Udham Singh shot Sir Michael O’Dwyer at Caxton Hall in London, 21 years after the carnage. The khadi marigold in luminous saffron symbolises the spirit of Baisakhi and sacrifice. The khadi is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who started the anti-Rowlatt satyagraha. “During our research, we tried to uncover untold aspects of the massacre through original materials in the form of newspapers, reports and photographs. The exhibition depicts atrocities by the British prior to the Today’s issue is of 24 pages, including four-page Jobs and Careers and four-page Bathinda Tribune. Udham Singh (R) being led away by the police after he assassinated Michael O’Dwyer on March 13, 1940, at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London Launch today, the day Udham Singh shot O’Dwyer in 1940 massacre. One section is about the colonial martial law that lasted some years after the carnage. Indians were made to bow. They had to make way for an English man or woman while walking on a footpath. The second part is about the day the massacre took place and the third on the post-massacre scenario,” she explained. Desai, who wrote “Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story”, regretted that survivors could not be located. “We succeeded in finding the names of martyrs and undertook mapping of 70-80 hous- es, but could not find any survivor. The 12 families we interviewed were third or fourth generation of martyrs who could only narrate what they had been told,” she said. The exhibition will be inaugurated at the Manchester Museum on April 8, followed by the Nehru Centre, London, and the Birmingham Library on April 12. In Punjab, it would be opened in Amritsar on April 13. Also, the Partition Museum will hold thematic heritage walks in the city related to events leading to the massacre and after.

The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).